Rotatable mirror assemblies

Abstract

Rotatable mirror assemblies and light detection and ranging systems containing rotatable mirror assemblies are described herein. An example rotatable mirror assembly may include (1) a housing having a top end, a bottom end, and a longitudinal axis intersecting the top and bottom ends, and (2) a set of reflective surfaces, where each reflective surface in the set is coupled to the top end of the housing and the bottom end of the housing such that each reflective surface possesses limited freedom of movement with respect to the housing.

We claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a housing comprising a top end, a bottom end, a top edge extending from the top end towards the bottom end, and a bottom edge extending from the bottom end towards the top end; 
 a set of springs, wherein each spring comprises a first end, a second end, and an arc-shaped portion between the first and second ends; 
 a reflective surface, wherein the arc-shaped portion of a first spring of the set of springs presses the reflective surface against the top edge of the housing and the arc-shaped portion of a second spring of the set of springs presses the reflective surface against the bottom edge of the housing, such that the reflective surface is non-rigidly coupled to the top end of the housing and bottom end of the housing; and 
 a set of blocks, wherein a first block of the set of blocks positions the first end of the first spring away from the reflective surface and a second block of the set of blocks positions the second end of the first spring away from the reflective surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first spring is connected to the top end of the housing, and wherein the second spring is connected to the bottom end of the housing. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each spring comprises a resilient metal wire. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a set of clips, wherein a first clip of the set of clips restricts vertical movement of the first spring and a second clip of the set of clips restricts vertical movement of the second spring. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the top edge comprises a first edge end and a second edge end, and wherein the reflective surface is smaller than a horizontal distance between the first edge end and second edge end. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom edge comprises a first edge end and a second edge end, and wherein the reflective surface is smaller than a horizontal distance between the first edge end and a second edge end. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface is smaller than a vertical distance between the top end of the housing and a bottom end of the housing. 
     
     
       8. A light-detection and ranging (LIDAR) system comprising:
 a mirror assembly, the mirror assembly comprising:
 a housing comprising a top end, a bottom end, a top edge extending from the top end towards the bottom end, and a bottom edge extending from the bottom end towards the top end, 
 a set of springs, wherein each spring comprises a first end, a second end, and an arc-shaped portion between the first and second ends, and 
 a reflective surface, wherein the arc-shaped portion of a first spring of the set of springs presses the reflective surface against the top edge of the housing and the arc-shaped portion of a second spring of the set of springs presses the reflective surface against the bottom edge of the housing, such that the reflective surface is non-rigidly coupled to the top end of the housing and bottom end of the housing; 
 
 at least one laser diode configured to emit a laser signal, where the mirror assembly is positioned to redirect the laser signal; and 
 at least one receiver configured to receive a reflected laser signal, wherein the reflected laser signal corresponds to the emitted laser signal. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first spring is connected to the top end of the housing, and wherein the second spring is connected to the bottom end of the housing. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein each spring comprises a resilient metal wire. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8  further comprising a set of blocks, wherein a first block of the set of blocks positions the first end of the first spring away from the reflective surface and a second block of the set of blocks positions the second end of the first spring away from the reflective surface. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 8  further comprising a set of clips, wherein a first clip of the set of clips restricts vertical movement of the first spring and a second clip of the set of clips restricts vertical movement of the second spring. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the top edge comprises a first edge end and a second edge end, and wherein the reflective surface is smaller than a horizontal distance between the first edge end and second edge end. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the bottom edge comprises a first edge end and a second edge end, and wherein the reflective surface is smaller than a horizontal distance between the first edge end and a second edge end. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the reflective surface is smaller than a vertical distance between the top end of the housing and a bottom end of the housing. 
     
     
       16. A method comprising:
 emitting, via at least one laser diode, a laser signal; 
 redirecting the emitted laser signal via a mirror assembly, the mirror assembly comprising:
 a housing comprising a top end, a bottom end, a top edge extending from the top end towards the bottom end, and a bottom edge extending from the bottom end towards the top end, 
 a set of springs, wherein each spring comprises a first end, a second end, and an arc-shaped portion between the first and second ends, and 
 a reflective surface, wherein the arc-shaped portion of a first spring of the set of springs presses the reflective surface against the top edge of the housing and the arc-shaped portion of a second spring of the set of springs presses the reflective surface against the bottom edge of the housing, such that the reflective surface is non-rigidly coupled to the top end of the housing and bottom end of the housing; and 
 
 receiving, via at least one signal receiver, a reflected laser signal, wherein the reflected laser signal corresponds to the emitted laser signal. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first spring is connected to the top end of the housing, and wherein the second spring is connected to the bottom end of the housing. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein each spring comprises a resilient metal wire. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16  further comprising a set of blocks, wherein a first block of the set of blocks positions the first end of the first spring away from the reflective surface and a second block of the set of blocks positions the second end of the first spring away from the reflective surface.